Health Insurance For International Students In Germany

International students in Germany must get health insurance before enrolling in school or obtaining a residence permit. Student health insurance in Germany is intended to be less expensive than for other groups of people.

Typically, the German health-care system requires the majority of residents to pay for health insurance based on their income. However, regardless of financial situation, students in Germany pay a uniform discounted contribution amount.

What Should Student Health Insurance in Germany Include?

When you are getting student health insurance in Germany, it must cover at least the following:

• In-patient hospital care.
• Out-patient care.
• Regular medical check-ups.
• The cost of medications.
• Basic dental care.
• Pregnancy treatment.
• Emergency services (ambulance)
• In case of death:
• Repatriation of remains
• Funeral costs

How to Get Proof of Student Health Insurance in Germany?

To obtain proof of student health insurance in Germany, you must contact your private health insurance company directly and seek a certificate. This certificate should include information on your insurance plan, such as how much it covers and for how long.

In most circumstances, health insurance companies will know what type of document you need to submit and can supply it to you.

If you have a private health insurance plan, you must still visit a public health insurance provider in your area and give confirmation that you are exempt from public/statutory health insurance and that your current private insurance fits the standards. This also applies if you already have an acceptable health insurance plan in your home country (only for countries having social security agreements with Germany).

To calculate the amount that you have to pay for German private health insurance, you can use this free tool.

Options for Student Health Insurance in Germany

There are two types of health insurance in Germany: public (statutory) or private. Whether you will be eligible for public or private health insurance depends on the status of your studies and your age.

Public Health Insurance for Students in Germany

All degree-seeking students in Germany under the age of 30 must obtain public health insurance. You will not be able to register at your university unless you have a certificate proving you have enough coverage. You can get the certificate from the health insurance provider that covers you.

The majority of residents in Germany (about 90%) are registered in a public health insurance plan. Non-students (employees, freelancers) pay their health insurance contributions based on their income (usually 14%-15% of one’s salary goes to health insurance). However, students in Germany only have to pay about €110 per month (+/- €5) – at least until they turn 30. This is lower than the required minimum in other circumstances.

You cannot register for public health insurance in Germany if:

• You have health insurance in your home country and it is recognized in Germany through a social security agreement. (EU States, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Morocco, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, and Turkey.)
• You are over 30 years of age.
• You are working as a freelancer or are self-employed.
• You are not enrolled in a degree course in Germany yet (e.g: you are still in a preparatory or language course).

Please note: If you are working in Germany during your studies and you earn more than €450 per month, then you have to be registered as an employee and get health insurance as a foreign worker.

Exemption From Public Health Insurance in Germany for Students

If you are under 30 years old and want to be registered only with a private health insurance firm, you must acquire a certificate of exemption from statutory health insurance. You must ask for an exemption from local public health insurance companies within three months of beginning your study.

Once you have forfeited your statutory health insurance, you will be unable to reinstate it, at least for the duration of your studies. You can only re-enroll in public health insurance if you have a job and are registered as an employee.

Private Health Insurance for Students in Germany

If you fall under one of the following categories, you must purchase student health insurance from a private company in Germany:

• You are over the age of 30
• You are enrolled in a Preparatory or Language Course in Germany

This usually applies to Ph.D. students.

You may still be able to get public health insurance even if you aren’t technically eligible if:

• You are enrolled in mandatory training after finishing your degree
• You must care for disabled or sick relatives
• You have an illness or disability
• You will participate in a board of the university
• Due to the birth of a child

Keep in mind:

If you had public health insurance in Germany before to starting your Ph.D. program (not as a student), you can keep it or switch to private insurance.

As public health insurance only covers basic medical needs, many German students (even those who are ineligible for private insurance) choose for a supplemental private health insurance plan to provide additional coverage. This means that a foreign student in Germany under the age of 30 can acquire private health insurance if:

• It is in addition to the public/statutory insurance; or
• You are not eligible for public health insurance; or
• You have applied for exemption from public insurance

If any of the above criteria apply to you, you can purchase a private health insurance plan at Dr. Walter. You can also use their free tool to determine how much you need to pay to get a health insurance plan.

Click here to purchase student health insurance in Germany!

How to Get Student Health Insurance in Germany?

After you arrive in Germany and before enrolling in your chosen university, you must obtain health insurance from one of the Krankenkassen. Once you contact one of them, they will explain their ideas and provide you with the necessary facts and documentation. Make sure you select a package with enough coverage as required by German universities.

You can also look at health insurance plans for students in Germany at EDUCARE24 by Dr. Walter.

Before coming in Germany, you must apply for a German Student Visa at one of the German embassies or consulates overseas. In this situation, you will also want short-term travel health insurance, which will cover you for the duration of your stay until you can secure long-term health insurance. Travel health insurance is required for the German visa application procedure, but you cannot use it to replace student health insurance in Germany.

Please keep in mind that the particular criteria for Germany Student Visa health insurance vary by country, therefore you should check with the appropriate German embassy/consulate in your country.

Student Health Insurance in Germany for Preparatory or Language Course Students

International students in Germany enrolled in a preparatory or language course are ineligible for public health insurance because they are not considered degree course students. Instead, they must obtain student health insurance through a private insurance firm. After completing their preparatory courses, individuals can apply for public health insurance and enroll in their preferred institution in Germany.

Health Insurance for Exchange Students in Germany

Exchange students are typically enrolled in a degree program in Germany, which qualifies them for standard public/statutory health insurance, despite the fact that they will only be there for one or two semesters.